France 32-3 Scotland

Scotland kicked off the first of their Summer Tests in preparation for Rugby World Cup 2019 with a 32-3 defeat to France at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice.

The visitors suffered a nightmare start, with a mistake at the first lineout giving France possession and momentum in the Scots 22 in the opening minute.

France generated a couple of phases approaching the Scottish line before winger Alivereti Raka, on debut, cut an inside line to score under the posts with his first touch. Camille Lopez converted (7-0).

France then extended their initial lead after winning a penalty inside the Scots 22 and Lopez took the three points on offer (10-0).

Scotland mounted sporadic attacks with one of the most promising coming after back-row Jamie Ritchie won a turnover in the air from an Ali Price box kick midway in the first-half, and space opened up for centre Duncan Taylor to pass out to midfield partner Huw Jones, who brought in wing Byron McGuigan, however the hosts regrouped in the nick of time.

France cleared their lines and, while the Scots stole a later lineout, they conceded a penalty at the breakdown, which took France back into the Scotland 22, encapsulating the struggles the visitors faced in controlling the game’s momentum.

France immediately attacked off the resulting first phase ball and threaded the defence with a neat dab kick, picked up by centre Gael Fickou.

Scotland won a penalty for French offside from a scrappy lineout, following another monster box kick clearance from scrum-half Antoine Dupont, and Hastings lined up a shot at goal and got the Scots on the scoreboard (15-3).

Hastings was involved again soon after making a long-range break, picking up after a French knock on, which took the Scots to the edge of the French 22, but a Scottish knock-on gave France the chance to clear.

The young fly-half was again at the centre of things a few minutes later as he reached out for an intercept and tipped the ball forward, resulting in a yellow card.

France kicked to the corner and scored from rolling maul off the lineout through number 8 Gregory Alldritt. Lopez missed the conversion (20-3).

A promising attack from Taylor was then flipped into a French counter and only a back-tracking Hogg to clear on his own line and put the ball dead stopped more points being added.

Half-time: France 20-3 Scotland

Scots started the second half brightly and won an early penalty from a driving maul inside the French half and kicked to the corner, they built several attack phases but couldn’t generate any meaningful penetration.

France came back to life as the game wore on with Dupont orchestrating play well.

France applied further pressure with Medard getting his second try of night after debutant back-row Francois Cros got behind the Scottish defence and linked with Dupont who brought in Medard to finish. Lopez missed conversion (25-3).

Scotland emptied the bench after the fourth French try, with Scott Cummings and Rory Hutchinson both on for their debuts. Horne replaced Price and Kinghorn came on for Hogg.

Dupont was still a handful though and he set off on a mazy run to set up winger Penaud for a straightforward run-in on the hour. Lopez converted once again (32-3).

Rory Hutchinson brought some spark and a short kick and collection got behind the French, the move was carried on by captain and hooker Stuart McInally and things looked promising. Hastings spun a pass out to Jones who fed McGuigan but his pass back inside to Jones was forward.

Scotland had three attacking lineouts in French 22 on 70 minutes but all ended with another penalty, until finally a knock-on gave the French back possession.